Pulido and Zoon take Single and Double Elimination titles

Apr-26-2011

Leucate, France, April 26th, 2011 – The sun was out this morning welcoming the howling 25-35+ knot wind. Riders prepared their smallest kites for what was a day of astounding kiteboarding action. The competition level this year is extremely high making it mandatory for all riders to perform at the best of their ability.

The day began with the continuation of the freestyle single eliminations under extremely gnarly wind conditions where Reno Romeu (North, BRA) took on Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA). Rondina eliminated Romeu in a 5/0 judges decision due to a variety of technical tricks moving him up the ladder to contend Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED). It was an all around winning day for Zoon, taking first place in both the freestyle single as well as double eliminations. Zoon’s variety of technical tricks, speed, height, kite position and execution make him one of the top riders today enabling him his 3rd event title this season. Luis Alberto Cruz (StarKites, DOM) defeated fellow Dominican rider Robinson Hilario (F-ONE, DOM) in a 4/1 judges decision, which led him into the men’s single elimination final against Zoon. Hilario who was later eliminated by Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA) in a 5/0 judges decision earned 4th place while Rondina takes third.

It was an exciting day for many riders in the double eliminations. Michael Schitzhofer (Best, AUT) fought his way from the first until the fifth round winning four consecutive heats eliminating Ariel Corniel (Ozone, DOM), Mario Rodwald (North, GER), Mikael Blomvall (Nobile, SWE) as well as Marc Jacobs (Switch, NZL) but was later defeated by Alex Pastor (Airush, ESP). Pastor fought his way inch by inch from the first round to the last heat of the day against Zoon winning 8 consecutive heats. Pastor’s flaming winning streak came to an end in his 9th heat of the day in the men’s final against Zoon in a 5/0 judges decision due to better power, variety of tricks and speed enabling him second place. Despite the fact that Luis Alberto Cruz (StarKites, DOM) pulled out a Blind Judge 7 and Mega Loop 360, Pastor’s execution was much cleaner enabling Cruz a third place podium position while Alberto Rondina (Cabrinha, ITA) follows in fourth.

In the women’s division, Spanish rider Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP) finishes in first place in the freestyle single as well as the double elimination. Pulido’s overall variety of technical tricks and execution enabled her the win over Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) in the singles and Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL) in the doubles. Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) takes second place in the single eliminations while Winkowska takes third as well as second in the double eliminations while Kajiya takes third. French rider Elsa Liaumond had a great deal of support from a few local fans on the beach as she climbed her way up the ladder however, Polish rider Asia Litwin (Nobile, POL) eliminated Liaumond, which enabled Litwin fourth place in both the freestyle single as well as double elimination.

The Mondial du Vent 2011 has been a great success and will continue tomorrow with the Best Trick discipline. Skippers meeting is set for 10:00am with a 10:30am first possible start.